I have to do 75% a week just to keep my nitrates below 20ppm, the problem I have is that my ph is different- tap water 7.6, tank water around 8.2. Whats more dangerous to the fish high(er) nitrate or a swinging ph?
75% Water Changes OK?
- Thread starter Natalie
- Start date
dr_sudz;1681695; said:
Fish can die very easily from an embolism especially during the winter time when nitrogen gas is super saturated. Water comes up from well and directly into tank it then comes out of super saturation naturally to its normal saturation levels with normal filtration/aeration. The gas is either off-gassed by the filters/aeration, or is dissolved directly by the fish causing an embolism. It can happen even in the summer time too....just depends on how deep your well is and where you live. It can happen from other gasses too....it is far more rare though because of how readily nitrogen gas occurs in ground water and how easily is can become super saturated when under pressure.
To fix/prevent this I always recommend you age your water for atleast 24 hours with heavy aeration to balance the gases (N, O2, Co2, etc). This will totally prevent any chances of super saturated gases entering your aquarium(s). Plus, it helps stabilize the pH from any Co2 in the water (again, super saturation but with Co2) before it goes into the tank. Aging your water is more like a buffer zone meant to not only get the water to where it is supposed to be at (pH, temp, etc) but to also prevent the chance of super saturated gasses from getting to your fish.
-Ryan
dr_sudz;1681695; said:
Your fish are not swimming at depth, but that does not mean the water that you put in your tank was not deep and under great pressure. Transferring large amounts of water from depth to your tank is dangerous. Nitrogen does not come out of water instantly, it is greatly dependent on surface area.
What do you guys think causes the bends? Nitrogen gas blocking passage ways...nitrogen gas is acting as the embolus. An embolism is the major cause of the bends.
I would say that swinging ph can be more dangerous than 20ppm of nitrates. Quick swings are never good. And thats not that high for nitrates. Nitratas should be kept in check, but I have a tank that Ive kept at 40ppm for years, and I have fish in there that have never gotten sick, that grow well, and that will spawn if given the chance. So its important to keep nitrates down, but I think 40 ppm is a safe number (depending on the fish as well), and I know that quick swings in pH are never good, so I would say you should be more worried about that.Snake_Eyes;1682173; said:
Also, watch for dosing your tank with too much prime. People all over the place say they dose the entire volume of their tank when they do large water changes. ONLY DOSE FOR THE AMOUNT YOU ARE ADDING! As many people have pointed out on this thread, overdosing can lead to oxygen deprivation, and all you need to do is add the sufficient amount for the new water. There was a thread where someone emailed seachem and they cautioned about overdosing on prime - Id take their word for it. If it was safe, theyds want people burning through their product as quickly as possible.
